Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she will be away from some public events for the next several weeks after being diagnosed with mononucleosis, while her staff and county commissioners continue the business of county government.
Hidalgo said she had been dealing with a lingering sore throat and fatigue before getting checked out after appearing at a Commissioners Court meeting while wearing a K95 mask. She said the test results later showed mono and that she chose to disclose the diagnosis so people would understand why she may be less visible in the community as she recovers.
The county said Hidalgo remains reachable for emergencies, with her team stepping in when appearances are needed. For residents, the main effect is likely to be fewer in-person appearances from the county judge in the coming weeks, not a break in county operations.
That matters in Harris County because the county judge is the presiding officer of Commissioners Court and the top elected official in the county government. Harris County says the court handles the countywide budget, tax rates, vendor contracts, personnel decisions and program operations, while the judge and commissioners direct a budget of more than $4 billion.
The judge also serves by state law as the county’s director of emergency management, a role that carries added weight in a county that regularly deals with flooding, severe heat, public safety calls and transportation issues. Harris County materials say the judge’s office also oversees the Harris County Flood Control District.
Hidalgo has held the office since Jan. 1, 2019, when she became the first woman elected Harris County judge. County materials describe Harris County as the third-largest county in the nation, with a population of more than 4.5 million.
Commissioners Court, where Hidalgo presides alongside commissioners Rodney Ellis, Adrian Garcia, Tom S. Ramsey and Lesley Briones, will keep meeting to handle county business. In practice, that means the courthouse and county departments should keep operating, even if some public appearances, board meetings or event schedules are shifted to staff or postponed while Hidalgo recovers.
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